Junior doctors in Salford and UK-wide will stage a total of 20 days of strikes between now and Christmas.
The British Medical Association is locked in a bitter battle with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt over the forced imposition of new contracts which will see junior doctors working longer hours and at weekends.
The union has now confirmed the first of four strikes will start in September.
Junior doctors will stage a full withdrawal of labour for five days each time over four weeks: between 8am and 5pm from 12-16 September; 5, 6 and 7 October (weekend covered) and then 10-11 October; 14-18 November; and 5-9 December.
Support in the past has been strong in Salford for the junior doctors’ plight.
Read: Industrial action ‘necessity, not choice’ say Salford junior doctors
Hundreds upon hundreds of readers have commented on SalfordOnline.com’s previous coverage of junior doctors strikes through Facebook and Twitter.
Prime Minister Theresa May has accused junior doctors of ‘playing politics’ with patient safety as she made her first statement on the dispute.
Mrs May said: “The Government is putting patients first, the BMA should be putting patients first – not playing politics.”
A source within the medical profession working locally told SalfordOnline.com: “It’s a really difficult situation.
“The priority for us all is to try to find a solution.
“In my experience, from conversations that I’ve had with my patients, they are generally supportive of the junior doctors.
“They acknowledge that the imposition of a contract isn’t ideal and feel that the government and the BMA needs to reopen negotiations.”
As the dispute rolls on there appears to be waning support from some medical bodies for the British Medical Association’s plans for four more walkouts between now and Christmas 2016.
A statement from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said: “We know there are genuine concerns about the contract and working arrangements, but we do not consider the proposed strikes are proportionate.
“Five days of strike action, particularly at such short notice, will cause real problems for patients, the service and the profession.”
Ellen McCourt, the BMA’s junior doctors chair said: “During a special meeting of the BMA Council, it has been decided that junior doctors in England will take further industrial action, from September.
“We believe that progress was made during talks in May, so we are calling for the government to lift the imposition and restart meaningful talks to agree a contract that is adequately funded, fit for purpose, delivers for patients and has the confidence of the profession.
“Despite our efforts to work with the Secretary of State to resolve this dispute, the Government has failed to listen, leaving us with no option but to take more industrial action.”
The Salford source continued: “This is a two-fold issue.
“Firstly, the junior doctors are wanting to protect themselves and secondly, it’s about the NHS and wider financial pressures it faces.
“There a real risk that we’re going to see an exodus of junior doctors from England if these contracts are pushed through.
“Some junior doctors already work overseas after their second year of hospital training or perhaps after their fifth year of training.
“We’re seeing posts 100% filled in Scotland and Wales because junior doctors working in England know that they won’t be subject to the same contracts in other countries.”
The most recent Figures from NHS Education Scotland found a 27% per cent hike in the number of junior doctors wanting to train in the Scottish health service for 2016-17.
Main image: Albert@itookyourpic.com
